Snakes

6th May 202014th June 2022 By Simon

Words for snake in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*natrixs = snake
Old Irish (Goídelc)	nathir [ˈnaθirʲ] = snake
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	nathir = snake
Irish (Gaeilge)	nathair [ˈn̪ˠæhəɾʲ] = snake
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	nathair [n̪ˠahɪrʲ] = snake, serpent, viper, adder
Manx (Gaelg)	aarnieu / ardnieu = adder, serpent, snake, viper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	nadret, nadred, neidyr = snake, serpent
Welsh (Cymraeg)	neidr [nei̯dr / ˈnei̯dɪr] = snake, serpent
Old Cornish	nadar = snake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	nader = snake, viper, adder
Cornish (Kernewek)	nader = adder
Old Breton	natrolion = snakes
Middle Breton	nazr, azr, aër, aer = snake
Breton (Brezhoneg)	naer = snake

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁tr- (adder), or from *(s)neh₂- (to swim) [source].

The English word snake comes from a different root: the Old English snaca (snake, serpent, reptile), from the Proto-Germanic *snakô (snake), from *snakaną (to crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *sneg- (to crawl; a creeping thing) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwiber = viper, adder, poisonous snake, water-snake, mythical flying serpent, the devil, scoundrel, scold, venomous woman colwiber snake, serpent, viper
Breton (Brezhoneg)	wiber = viper

Etymology: from the Latin vīpera (viper), possibly from vivus-pario (one that gives live young) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	sarff = serpent, snake, scorpion; hero, warrior, leader, chieftain
Cornish (Kernewek)	serpont = snake, serpent sarf = serpent
Breton (Brezhoneg)	sarpant = snake, dragon, kite

Etymology: from the Latin serpēns (snake), from serpō (I creep, crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *serp- (to creep, crawl) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Mice

3rd May 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for mice in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*lukoss = mouse
Old Irish (Goídelc)	luch [l͈ux] = mouse, rat
Irish (Gaeilge)	luch [l̪ˠʊx / l̪ˠɔx / l̪ˠʌx] = mouse luchóg = mouse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	luch [l̪ˠux] = mouse
Manx (Gaelg)	lugh [ɫɔx] = mouse
Proto-Brythonic	llug = mouse llugod = mice
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lleyc = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llyg = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse llygod [ˈɬəɡɔd] = mice, rats, shrews, voles llygoden = mouse, rat, shrew, vole
Middle Cornish	logoden, logosan = mouse
Cornish (Kernewek)	logos = mice logosen / logojen = mouse
Old Breton	loc = mouse
Breton (Brezhoneg)	logod = mice, yarn balls, meatballs, varicose veins logodenn = mouse

Etymology: unknown, most likely from a non-Indo-European substrate language – only found in Celtic languages [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed:

Simon Ager · The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed

Squirrels

22nd April 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for squirrel in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	wiweros = squirrel
Old Irish (Goídelc)	íaru = squirrel
Irish (Gaeilge)	iora = squirrel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	feòrag [fjɔːrag] = squirrel
Manx (Gaelg)	fiorag = squirrel
Proto-Brythonic	gwɨwer = squirrel
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gwiwair, gwiweir = squirrel
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwiwer [ˈɡwɪu̯.ɛr / ˈɡwɪu̯.ar] = squirrel
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwiwer = squirrel
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwiñver = squirrel

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wer- (squirrel, stoat) [source].

In Manx a squirrel is also a roddan biljagh (“tree rat”).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Scampering Squirrels / Y Gwiwerod sy’n Prancio:

Simon Ager · The Scampering Squirrels / Y Gwiwerod sy’n Prancio

Hedgehogs

13th April 202015th March 2025 By Simon

Words for hedgehog in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gráineóg = hedgehog
Irish (Gaeilge)	gráinneog [ˈɡɾˠɑːnʲoːɡ] = hedgehog; bristly, short-tempered, person gráinneogach = like a hedgehog, bristly, short-tempered gráinneog thrá = sea urchin
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gràineag [ˈgraːnʲag] = hedgehog gràineagach = of, or pertaining to, hedgehogs, like a hedgehog, bristly gràineag-mhara = sea urchin
Manx (Gaelg)	graynoge = hedgehog

Etymology: from Old Irish gráin (hatred, abhorrence) and , from the Proto-Celtic gragnis (awful, terrifying, horrifying, loathsome), and óc (a diminutive suffix). The Yola word gra(a)nogue (hedgehog) comes from the same roots [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	draenawc, draenog, draenoc = hedgehog, urchin; a cross-grained peevish person; perch, bass draenoc coet = hedgehog, urchin
Welsh (Cymraeg)	draenog [ˈdrɑːɨ̯nɔɡ / ˈdrai̯nɔɡ] = hedgehog, urchin, procupine; a cross-grained peevish person; ferret, bittern, thorny, prickly draenog (y) coed = hedgehog, urchin draenog (y) môr = sea urchin draenogaidd = prickly draenoglyd = peevish, spiteful, testy draenogrwydd = irritableness, peevishness, petulance, thorniness, prickliness, spinosity
Breton (Brezhoneg)	draeneg [ˈdrɛːnek / ˈdrẽːnek] = hedgehog, wolf, barbel

Etymology: from draen (prickle, thorn), from the Proto-Celtic *dragino-, & -og/eg (a diminutive suffix) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	sarth = serpent, snake, scorpion, reptile
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	sart, sort = urchin, hedgenhog
Cornish (Kernewek)	sort = hedgehog
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	sort = (?)

Etymology: unkonwn

Other Breton words for hedgehog include heureuchin [hø.ˈrø.ʃin], which comes from French hérisson (hedgehog), avalaouer (“apple hunter”), laer-avaloù (“apple thief”) and paotr-pikoù (“pointy boy”) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis

Deer

7th April 20208th May 2022 By Simon

Words for deer in Celtic languages. There were several different words for deer in Proto-Celtic: *wēdus, *karwos, *ellan(t)ī-, *danī- and *yorkos, and also *sidos (stag). They may have referred to different types of deer, but it is not certain which types, apart from *yorkos, which is a roe deer.

Proto-Celtic	*wēdus [ˈweː.dus] = wild
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fíad [fʲiːa̯ð] = wild animals, game, especially deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	fia [fʲiə] = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fiadh [fiəɣ] = deer
Manx (Gaelg)	feeaih = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*karwos = deer, stag
Gaulish	caruus / carvos = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	carbh = deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	carria / cairrfhiadh = deer, stag
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cair-fhiadh / carbh-fheadh = hart, stag
Manx (Gaelg)	çharroo = stag
Proto-Brythonic	*karw = deer, stag
Old Welsh	*caru = deer
Middle Welsh (kymraec)	caru, carv, carw = deer, hart, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	carw [ˈkaru / ˈkaːru] = deer, hart, stag; lord, nobleman, patron
Old Cornish	caruu = stag
Middle Cornish	carow = stag
Cornish (Kernewek)	karow = stag
Middle Breton	caro, qaro = deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	karv = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (horn) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*sidos = stag
Old Irish (Goídelc)	séd = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hydd = stag, hart
Breton (Brezhoneg)	heizes = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: uncertain

Proto-Celtic	ellan(t)ī- / agliones = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ag [aɣ] = bullock, cow, ox; deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge)	agh = cow, ox agh alla = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	agh [ɤɣ] = heifer, hind
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eilon/eilion = stag, hart

Etymology: possible from the same root as the English word eland (a type of antelope found in South Africa), which from the Dutch eland (elk), from the Old High German elent.

Proto-Celtic	*ou̯ījkā = ?
Gaulish	cerua = ?
Old Cornish	euhic = hind, deer
Old Welsh	eguic = hind, deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ewig = hind, doe, roe; graceful light-footed woman; deer, hart

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (sheep) [source]

Proto-Celtic	*yorkos = roebuck, deer
Gaulish	iorkos = deer
Proto-Brythonic	*jorx = deer, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iwrch [jʊrχ] = roe-deer, roebuck
Old Cornish	yorch = roe-deer
Cornish (Kernewek)	yorgh = roe-deer
Old Breton	iorch = roe-deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yourc’h = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *york- (antelope, gazelle) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*danī- = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	danas = deer, fallow deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	demm = deer, fallow deer

Etymology: related to the French daim (hind, doe), from the Latin dāma (fallow deer, buck, doe) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Water Dogs

3rd April 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for otter in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*dubrokū = otter, beaver
Old Irish (Goídelc)	doburchú [ˈdovurˌxuː] = otter dobrán = otter, beaver
Irish (Gaeilge)	dobharchú = otter dobhrán = otter, dull-witted, stupid, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dobhar-chù [do.ərxu] = otter dòbhran [dɔːran] = otter
Manx (Gaelg)	dooarchoo = otter, beaver
Proto-Celtic	*düβrgi = otter, beaver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	deuerky, deifyrgi, dyfyrgi, dwfyrgi = otter
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dyfrgi [ˈdəvrɡɪ / ˈdəvrɡi] = otter dyfrast = she-otter dwrgi = otter ci dŵr = otter
Old Cornish	doferghi = otter
Middle Cornish	dofergi = otter
Cornish (Kernewek)	dowrgi = otter
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dourgi = otter

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *dubros (water) and *kū (dog) [source].

The words for water beginning with d in the Goidelic languages only appear in this compound.

Irish (Gaeilge)	madra uisce [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə ˈɪʃcɪ] = otter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh-uisge [ˈmadəɣ ˈɯʃgʲə] = otter
Manx (Gaelg)	moddey ushtey = otter

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad /matrad (dog); and the Old Irish uisce (water), from the Proto-Celtic *udenskyos (water), from the Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (water) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Rabbits

27th March 2020 By Simon

Words for rabbit in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	coinín = rabbit
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	coineanach [kɔn̪ʲanəx] = rabbit, bunny, coney coinean [kɔn̪ʲan] = rabbit, bunny, coney
Manx (Gaelg)	conning / conneeyn = rabbit, bunny, coney
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cwningen [kʊˈnɪŋɛn] = rabbit, cony, hyrax cwning [ˈkʊnɪŋ] = rabbit, cony, hyrax
Cornish (Kernewek)	konin = rabbit
Breton (Brezhoneg)	koulin / konifl / konikl = rabbit

Etymology: from the Anglo-Norman conil/connil (rabbit, idiot), from Latin cunīculus (rabbit, rabbit burrow, mine, subterranean tunnel) [source]

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	rabaid [r̪ˠabɪdʲ] = rabbit, bunny, coney

Etymology: from the English rabbit, from the Middle English rabet, rabette (rabbit), from the Old French rabbotte / rabouillet (baby rabbit), from the Middle Dutch robbe (rabbit, seal) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Cats

24th March 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for cat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kattā = cat
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cath = cat
Irish (Gaeilge)	cat = cat cat fireann = tomcat piscín = kitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cat [kahd] = cat cat fireann / moth-chat / cullach-cait = tomcat, bossy child baircne = female cat, white cat piseag [piʃag] = kitten
Manx (Gaelg)	kayt = feline, cat, puss kayt firryn = tomcat pishin / pishanagh = kitten
Proto-Brythonic	*kaθ = cat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cath, kath = cat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cath [kaθ] = cat, wild cat cwrcath / gwrcath / cwrcyn = tomcat cath fenyw = queen, female cat cath fach = kitten
Old Cornish	kat = cat
Middle Cornish	cath = cat
Cornish (Kernewek)	kath [kaːθ / kæːθ] = cat kathik = kitten
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kazh [ˈkɑːs] = cat, tomcat kazheg [ˈkɑː.zes] = queen, female cat kazhig [ˈkɑː.zik] = kitten

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Badgers

22nd March 202022nd December 2023 By Simon

Words for badger in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*brokkos = badger
Gaulish	broco / brokkos = badger
Primitive Irish	ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	brocc [brok] = badger
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	brocc, broc = badger, brock broclas = brock-holes brocnait = she-badger broic(th)enach = badger-warren, haunt of badgers
Irish (Gaeilge)	broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person brocach = badger’s burrow, fox’s earth brocaire = terrier brocaireacht = (act of) badger-baiting
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	broc [brɔxg] = badger, brock, grumpy/surly person brocair [brɔxgɛrʲ] = badger/fox hunter broc-lann [brɔxgl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = badger’s den/sett broclach = (badger / fox) warren, messy area, rubbish, messy person brocach [brɔxgəx] = badger-like, pertaining to or abounding in badgers, black-faced, stinking, squalid, filthy, odious brocail [brɔxgal] = badger-like, pertaining to badgers
Manx (Gaelg)	broc(k) = badger brockagh = badger’s den
Proto-Brythonic	*brox = badger
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	broch = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger
Welsh (Cymraeg)	broch [broːχ] = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger
Old Cornish	broch = badger
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	broch, bróch = badger
Cornish (Kernewek)	brogh [bɹoːx] = badger broghki = dachsund
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	broch, broh, broc’h = badger
Breton (Brezhoneg)	broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger broc’heta = to hunt badgers

Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog). Words from the same Celtic roots include brochure, brooch and brock (male badger – northern England) in English, brock (badger) in Scott, broche (brooch, spit, spike, peg, pin) in French, brocco (thorn, stick) in Italian, and broco (having long projecting horns; bad-tempered) in Galician [Source].

Proto-Celtic	*taskos = badger
Gaulish	*tasgos = badger
Galatian	τασκός (taksos) = badger

Etymology: unknown [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger

Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote in 2017 called The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl

Simon Ager · The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Bears

18th March 2020 By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*artos = bear
Noric	*𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish	*artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc)	art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic	*arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg)	arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek)	arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton	ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek)	ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge)	mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg)	maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: English

Snakes

Mice

Squirrels

Hedgehogs

Deer

Water Dogs

Rabbits

Cats

Badgers

Bears